Durban’s June 30 March confirmed but row over finishing point remains

Durban Metro Police have confirmed the June 30 March and March protest will take place, but negotiations continue over where the march should finish after organisers proposed ending at the old drive‑in site and city officials suggested City Hall.

Start point agreed; end point unresolved

Durban Metro Police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu told IOL that organisers and city officials agreed the march would begin at King Dinuzulu Park. He said the parties had not reached agreement on the march’s end point.

“I can confirm that we had discussions with representatives of March and March. We agreed on the starting point of the march, which will be King Dinuzulu Park. Where we disagree is on the end point. They wanted the march to end at the old drive-in site, while we proposed City Hall, where government representatives will meet with them.”

Safety concerns over old drive‑in site

Zungu said the municipality believed it would be unsafe for the march to end at the old drive‑in site, which currently houses thousands of migrants seeking repatriation. He characterised the dispute over the finish location as the central issue still under discussion.

“That is where discussions currently stand. But there is no truth to claims that permission for the march was denied,”

Organisers and wider response

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese‑Zuma has maintained the demonstration will go ahead, amid earlier confusion about whether the municipality had granted permission.

The planned protest has prompted heightened security measures, with reports that private security and businesses have increased security and that government has allocated R600 million to strengthen policing capacity and respond to any potential disruptions.

Some local business owners said they would close on the day of the march. One shop owner in Durban’s central business district, identified as Ahmed, told IOL:

“I’m closing my shop on Tuesday. I’m not taking any chances, even though I’m South African.”

What organisers say

March and March described the protest as a campaign against illegal immigration aimed at pressuring government to strengthen enforcement against undocumented foreign nationals. Organisers have said the demonstrations will be peaceful.

Outlook

With the agreed starting point set and the finish line still contested, the focus ahead of June 30 is on finalising the route and implementing the increased security measures city and national authorities have put in place.